GTL Fun Race - GTC76

[Zacari]

Hmm I was optomistic of GTL being great online until now, that was shocking.

Firstly it took literally 5 attempts, 4 CTD's and 1 total reset just to get onto the server, only to end up in a locked garage.  Then a further CTD or 2 and a few attempts more to get into the game properly!

Then there was such a gap between cars it was rediculous.  I was in 5th I think with Shark following on about lap 4.  There was about 13 seconds to 4th place, and once Shark got past after a spin (in about the 4th chicane, damn I hate what they've done to that track), I was about 6 secs behind Shark and a full 17 secs infront of 6th.  Decided I actually might wanna race someone so crawled round a lap, still a few secs in front so I decided (in an absent-minded way) to do a drive-through the pits, only you can't because the AI take the car into the pits for you and you have to stop.  Then I ended up turning off the limiter about 2" early and got a stop/go, at which time I hit esc in frustration.

I can't quite believe how much of a difference in speed there is between the cars in the same class, it's gonna take a hell of an effort to get GTL to work in a league in a fair way.

[PaulW]

Had a great time, hopelessly heated the rears on the Capri in the first race and got a tap into the big downhill braking zone. Had fun trying to control the slides after that. I always get huge rear wheel lock-up into the massive 1st corner brake at Imola... even if I just lift on the throttle- not sure what to do about it but the rears just kept getting hotter and hotter 

2nd race took the big CSL. Lovely little motor, very well mannered. Dorve the arse off it though and just couldn't keep up with Dave (who actually got bored and waited for me ). Just seems a bit heavy.

Hope you aren't right about the disparity between cars Zacari- if you are well probably see the same old car time and time again, and with the limited skins on offer in GTL, that could get really tedious.

Bloomin hard work GTL- 30 mins feels like 45/50 mins of GTR to me!

[ginsters sponsored]

I enjoyed it as well.  Must apologise for first race when I spun and created havoc in a blind spot. Funny thing was I got whacked three or four times but had no damage, dissapointing. All those cars on start was amazing .

Second race was superb while it lasted. Took Escort for first time and scared everyone to death as I tried to get to grips with it from pole. Then had good battle with Paul and Dave, with all of us making the odd mistake . From my experience so far, and the second race tonight, I would argue that some cars from the same class do run on an equal footing, but time will tell. The first race saw big gaps simply becuase those at the front set an awesome pace. 

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

The cars are very physical aren't they?

First race was a bit of a disaster, I'm still learning the circuit and went into the second set of tyres at the final chicane after a few laps, having had a frenetic but fun battle amongst half a dozen other cars for a few minutes. Bent the suspension a little but it was still drivable, so I set about hacking my way back up through the field only to have the engine go pop coming out of Variante Alta - presumably a holed radiator.

Watched the battles for a while, including seeing Shark hit the same set of tyres I did.

GTL then crashed but I rejoined for a lightly populated second race. Toyed briefly with the 911 but it needs such a different driving style that I decided to switch back to the Capri in which I'd practiced. Drove like a muppet for a few laps at the start of the race but that did at least afford me the chance to fight my way back into the lead. As Paul says I got bored then and waited for him so I could do it all over again. Contemplated repeating it but the gap suddenly grew to 38s+ so I decided to knuckle down and see about getting my PB down, eventually getting a 2:06.something before melting the tyres on the penultimate lap.

I must say I find these faster 76 cars much harder to drive consistently than the 65 cars. I'll seem to be braking at the same place on two adjacent laps but one I'll make the corner with loads of room to spare and the other I'll go sailing off into the gravel without any prospect of making the corner.

[Jamera]

Really enjoyed last night, set a PB too in the 2nd race of nearly 3 secs better. Like Dave I was still learning the track and it showed in reduced lap times as the night went on. I agree with Dave on the braking points, I found exactly the same thing where I'd be ok for 2-3 laps then off, then ok again for a few

All in all a good nights fun, but clearly there are a number of bugs that I hope will be addressed in the patch if we are to be able to enjoy some really solid online racing

P.s. Anyone up for some more tonight?

[petestenning]

Allthough i could not make the race last night grid was full and did not know there would be a second  .
I also found the Capri to be unpredicable in that you have the same line and braking point lap after lap and suddenly find it sails off in to the gravel.
Or as i have found at Zolder will snatch at the brake when least expecting it , or is this just my driving style 

I love the Escort i can fling that around and keep control of it , try it in anything else and its disaster lol.

Pete

[Rich_A]

I always disable chat in-car... I still get join leave messages I don't know if that can be turned off. You can't really complain about folk chatting when there's option to disable it..

Crazy race, was going ok was catching aother yellow 911 but he lost it and instead of lifting and trying to control his off road excursion it looked like he floored it which started a spin straight into my car. Thanks, why folk take out there own shortcomings on others i'll never know. The race is within yourself, not against others - or more you should be willing to yield until ready to race against faster drivers, show some respect. You can use the 'Name Tags' option and assign to wheel button, study the current seasons and see what's what.. if you got a guy you've seen doing well in season then there's no chance you can race with him untill you are more confident.

[ginsters sponsored]

Rich steady on. It was me in Porsche and show me some respect. I didn't take my "shortcomings" out on you, I made a mistake for which I have apologized.

[Rich_A]

Oh ok np sorry gingsters. You're leading Div2 nice one..

It sure looked like you could have lifted and controlled but I can never be sure of what's going on in your cockpit.

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

Remember the rules about public incident discussion please. Just because it was a fun race doesn't mean the forums can be turned into a Kangaroo Court.

[Jamera]

Lol, that was a faster u turn than a labour party spin doctor 

[Simon Gymer]

I always disable chat in-car... I still get join leave messages I don't know if that can be turned off. You can't really complain about folk chatting when there's option to disable it..

Perhaps you should read the SimRacing.org.uk Rules...
https://www.simracing.org.uk/index.php?pid=7#chat

I quote...
"At the end of the race, in-game chat may be freely used only after all cars have completed their final competetive lap."

So yes i can complain and will continue to do so.

[AndyG]

I'm a bit disappointed to start seeing the "so many bugs" type posts here, without specific details; becoming a bit RSC-like

The specific bugs which have been mentioned are already listed as fixed in the patch list, if you find more, please post the details - the generic "isn't it awful" posts don't help us (or anyone quite frankly).

(BTW Shark, I tried to reproduce the 906 not showing up in the dedicated server car filter, and couldn't - all cars were shown, regardless of their unlock status.)

Edited by the society for clickable links

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

"At the end of the race, in-game chat may be freely used only after all cars have completed their final competetive lap."

Unfortunately GTL takes over your car even if you hit escape, so you can't tell just by using the monitor whether there's anyone still actually racing (especially as the AI tours back to the pits at very close to racing speed). Perhaps the colours of the drivers as shown in the (unscrollable ) list give (or could give) an indication.

[Dave 'Gizmo' Gymer]

I'm a bit disappointed to start seeing the "so many bugs" type posts here, without specific details; becoming a bit RSC-like

And on that note I'm off to post some more onto that list.